Combination fuel and oil can



Oct. 27, 1964 w, M. DEAN ETAL 3,154,219

COMBINATION FUEL AND on. CAN

Filed March 22, 1962 Wil/iam M. Dean Loyd h'. Keisling Myron E Goode/l INVENTORS BY ana/M HH'LW United 3,154,219 COMBINATIGN FUEL AND H. CAN William M. Dean, Loyd H. Keisling, and Myron E. Goodall, all of Box 53, Soulsbyville, Calif. Filed Mar. 22, 1%2, Ser. No. 181,660 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-129) This invention relates to a portable dual compartment can which is expressly designed and suitably adapted for practical time and labor-saving use by a timber faller when operating and using a chain saw.

More particularly, the invention pertains to a can having two compartments; namely, a main compartment for fuel (gasoline mixed with a prerequisite amount of oil) and a smaller companion compartment for lubricating oil used as a lubricant for component parts of the chain saw. To the end desired these compartments are proportional and each of a capacity suitable for needs during the customary S-hour working period. Equipped with the herein disclosed duplex can the saw operator is relieved of the perplexing necessity of carrying individual cans one for fuel and another one for oil. Keeping in mind the problems confronting a timber faller in carrying out his daily chores, one can readily appreciate the need for the compact and convenient can herein revealed.

Persons conversant with the lield of endeavor under consideration here are aware that multipurpose cans and containers with twin chambers or compartments and having individual filling and pouring spouts are not new. Therefore, it is to be pointed out that the combination fuel and oil can here disclosed features several improvements. For example, two spouts are provided on the can top at spaced diametrically opposite points or places with a handle (handgrip) therebetween and aligned at its ends with the respectively adjacent spouts whereby the user may expeditiously and conveniently permit pouring from one compartment without spilling from the other compartment and vice versa.

The compartments are so arranged and cooperable that in case both caps are off at the same time (usually not intentionally) one liuid can be poured without spilling the other huid. Hence, the caps could be loose, even leak, without requiring too much attention or annoying the user by hunting for a temporarily misplaced cap.

By utilizing a well-like oil compartment directly underneath and integrated with the concavo-convex top of the can the pouring steps can be readily achieved simply by tilting the can to the left or right and holding the same at a L-degree angle. This feature is a distinct advantage when pouring oil which is cold. In fact, the user can place the can at the stated angle and attend to other duties while the oil flows gently and slowly. And, by t'ne same token the fuel can be aptly and controllably handled.

Briefly the invention is characterized by a container having a top provided with openable and closable pouring spouts spaced apart and diametrically opposite each other, a partition in the receptacle portion of said container dividing the same into separate non-communicating compartments but communicating with their respective spouts, said partition -being joined with and wholly carried by said top.

As will be hereinafter noted the partition has a portion of one surface thereof which merges into and in fact registers with the intake of its companion filling and pouring spout. The other, the bottom surface, of the partition has a marginal edge portion thereof which is integrated with the top at a point contiguous to the other spout. This surface constitutes batiie and also assists in shunting and directing the material, the fuel in this instance, from the main compartment to its filling and pouring spout.

More explicitly the invention is characterized by a portable can having a main compartment for fuel, said compartment having a communicating pouring spout, and an auxiliary compartment for oil, the latter having a pouring spout, said main compartment being defined by the body and complemental top and bottom Walls of said can, said auxiliary compartment being formed by a concavoconvex saucer-shaped partition whose marginal edge is integrally joined with the underneath side of said top wall.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a View in perspective of a combination fuel and oil can of a type which is preferably constructed and designed for use by a timber faller; and

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation with the upper portion broken away and appearing in section and which View shows all of the essential component parts and their relationship and, in addition, shows the 45 degree angle tilting to left and right for discharging fuel and oil, respectively.

Referring to the views of the drawing and more particularly to the illustration seen in FG. 2 it will be evident that the numeral 4 designates the can or container. In practice the bottom 6 will be preferably fiat and the body portion 8 vertically elongated and circular or cylindrical in cross-section. The top wall 10 is concavo-con- Vex, the outward convex surface 12 projecting or bulging upwardly and the underneath or concave surface 14 facing into the hollow portion of the can and defining the main compartment 16 which is here used for storing and subsequently dispensing the chain saw fuel. To the left in FIG. 2 and just inwardly of the outer marginal edge 18 a iiller and pouring neck 20 is provided. The neck projects upwardly and inclines outwardly and is preferably screw-threaded to accommodate a screw cap 22. Directly across from the neck or spout 2t) a second filling and pouring spout 24 is provided. This has a slightly more acute slant upwardly and outwardly and also is spaced a greater distance inwardly from the marginal edge portion 26 adjacent thereto. Here again the spout comprises a neck which is screw-threaded to accommodate a readily applicable and removable screw cap 28. The handle means comprises a susbtantially U-shaped grip 30 having the end portions 32 of its arms liattened and fixedly mounted atop the crest or crown portion of the convex top wall. The end portions 32 are fixed inwardly of the respective pouring spouts and are in line therewith. Consequently the handle is oriented with the pouring spouts or vice versa. In actual practice and in order to identify the contents (fuel) of the main compartment 16 it would be within the purview of the invention to utilize a suitably colored closing cap and pouring spout. A distinguishable color for the pouring spout 24 for the lubricating oil may also be employed. The feature of greatest significance is the auxiliary or oil compartment 34. This aspect of the concept is unique in that it invokes the use of a divider or partitioning wall 36. More particularly the partition or wall is concavo-convex and circular in plan and of a diameter less than the diameter of the concavo-convex top wall 10. The outer marginal edge portion 38 (at the left in FIG. 2) is joined to the underneath side of the top wall just inwardly of the intake of the pouring spout 20. Thus the convex surface of the wall 36 provides a baiiie and assists in directing the fuel pouring step. The diametrically opposite edge portion 49 not only joins the underneath surface of the top wall but is located outwardly of the attached intake end of the pouring spout 24. Thus the pouring spout 24 is rigidly mounted and in @.9 communicating alignment with the well-like space which is deined between the top Wall 10 and partitioning w-all 36, said space providing the oil compartment.

The construction shown should appeal to the manufacturer in that the attachment of the saucer-like partition or Wall 36 to the top wall 10 effectively rigidiiies or reinforces the top Wall, the handgrip and also the attached lling and pouring spouts. It follows that with the thus utilized construction a highly simple and rugged can is provided, one which may be subjected to every day handling and carrying needs. Also -by having the partition 36 attached to the top wall and, as experience will show, there is very little likelihood of the partitioning wall breaking loose or promoting undesirable leakage.

In practice the capacity of the main compartment 16 will be in keeping with the requirements, ordinarily speaking, of fuel usage for at least an S-hour working day period. With this amount of fuel in the main compartment the normal fuel level will be just below the crest of the convex surface of the partition or Wall 36 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Also the capacity of the auxiliary chamber 34 will be ample for the users daily need for oil.

All of the oil can be poured from the compartment 34 when the can is tilted to a 45 degree angle, this being a great advantage and of assistance to the user when pouring cold oil. This pouring step is shown at the right in phantom lines in FIGURE 2. The fuel pouring step is shown at the left in phantom lines. Therefore it is believed that by considering the description in conjunction with the views of the drawing the reader will be able to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the invention and the features and advantages and mode of using the same. Consequently a more lengthy description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of lthe invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction .and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A dual container comprising a can including a bottom Wall, -a peripheral side wall, and an upwardly bulged concavo-convex top wall dening a receptacle, a divider wall located within said receptacle and dividing said receptacle into non-communicating main and auxiliary compartments, said divider wall being concavo-convex and downwardly bulged, said divider wall having a transverse Width less than the width of said top wall, said divider wall being orientated substantially concentric with said top wall, the peripheral edge of said divider wall being sealed to said top Wall inwardly from the peripheral edge of said top wall, said top wall and said divider Wall forming saidV auxiliary compartment centrally within the upper portion of said receptacle, said auxiliary compartment having a maximum height at approximately the vertex of the top Wall, said height decreasing radially outward from the top Wall vertex so as to generally correspond to that portion of the receptacle formed by the top Wall above the side wall, and a filling and pouring spout communicating with each chamber.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said divider wall has the inner surface thereof merging into and registering the auxiliary compartment with its companion spout, the outer surface of said divider Wall having a marginal edge portion thereof contiguous to the main compartment spout, said outer surface constituting a baie to shunt and direct material from said main compartment to its companion spout.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,788,919 Bostwick Apr. 16, 1957 

1. A DUAL CONTAINER COMPRISING A CAN INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL, A PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL, AND AN UPWARDLY BULGED CONCAVO-CONVEX TOP WALL DEFINING A RECEPTACLE, A DIVIDER WALL LOCATED WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE AND DIVIDING SAID RECEPTACLE INTO NON-COMMUNICATING MAIN AND AUXILIARY COMPARTMENTS, SAID DIVIDER WALL BEING CONCAVO-CONVEX AND DOWNWARDLY BULGED, SAID DIVIDER WALL HAVING A TRANSVERSE WIDTH LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID TOP WALL, SAID DIVIDER WALL BEING ORIENTATED SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC WITH SAID TOP WALL, THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID DIVIDER WALL BEING SEALED TO SAID TOP WALL INWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID TOP WALL, SAID TOP WALL AND SAID DIVIDER WALL FORMING SAID AUXILIARY COMPARTMENT CENTRALLY WITHIN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID AUXILIARY COMPARTMENT HAVING A MAXIMUM HEIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY THE VERTEX OF THE TOP WALL, SAID HEIGHT DECREASING RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM THE TOP WALL VERTEX SO AS TO GENERALLY CORRESPOND TO THAT PORTION OF THE RECEPTACLE FORMED BY THE TOP WALL ABOVE THE SIDE WALL, AND A FILLING AND POURING SPOUT COMMUNICATING WITH EACH CHAMBER. 